Schedule of the Event
Once again Wood From Finland Conference offers a quality program with first class Key Note speakers.
Host of the seminar day is Anniina Kostilainen, Forest and Environment Manager, Finnish Sawmills Association.
Program is subject to change.
Day 1 – Wednesday Feb, 5
10:00 – 12:00
Nordica, 2nd floor
Sponsor lunch
Event for sponsors only
Key Note Speakers
TBA
18:00pm – 19:30pm
FOYER LOBBY
Welcome Cocktails
Networking event, DJ
Day 2 – Thursday Feb, 6
8:00 - 9:00
Scandic marina congress center
Registration
9:00 - 9:05
Europaea, 1st floor
Welcome
Tino Aalto, Managing Director, Finnish Sawmills Association
Speaker info
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Tino Aalto is Managing Director of Finnish Sawmills Association. Aalto took over as Managing Director of the Sawmill Industry from the position of Special Advisor to the Minister of Transport and Communications. Before that he has worked as a Special Advisor to the Minister of European Affairs and Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. Previously, Aalto has worked in the Technology Industries of Finland, as the head of innovation policy and CEO’s advisor. He has also worked in Design and Consulting Firms Association and consulting house Miltton. |
9:05 - 9:25
Europaea, 1st floor
Opening
Petteri Orpo, Prime Minister of Finland
Speaker info
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9:25 - 9:50
Europaea, 1st floor
Global Economic Outlook
Kristian Nummelin, Economist, Nordea
Speaker info
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Mr. Nummelin works as an Economist at Nordea Economic Research, where he provides updates on macroeconomic and financial market developments to corporate clients. Additionally, Kristian closely monitors both the European and global economies. |
9:50 - 10:15
Europaea, 1st floor
Flows and supply of coniferous sawn timber and logs
Glen O’Kelly, Director, O’Kelly Acumen
Speaker info
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Glen has worked with the forest industries globally for 25 years, across the full value chain from forestry to wood products, pulp and paper, and bioenergy – on topics ranging from markets, strategy, procurement, and manufacturing. His experience includes forest management roles in New Zealand and Sweden, and business consulting with McKinsey & Company for 17 years where he served executive-level clients in leading forestry and forest products companies globally. For many years, he led McKinsey’s global Paper & Forest Products research and expert team. Since 2021, Glen leads O’Kelly Acumen, a new business providing distinctive market intelligence and consulting services to clients worldwide. |
10:15 - 10:45
LOBBY, 1st & 2nd floor
Coffee Break
10:45 - 11:10
Europaea, 1st floor
EUDR – Implementation
Anniina Kostilainen, Forest and Environment Manager, Finnish Sawmills Association
Speaker info
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Anniina Kostilainen works at the Finnish Sawmill Association as a Forest and Environment Manager dealing with policies and development projects related to forest management, biodiversity, climate and sustainability. |
11:10 - 11:35
Europaea, 1st floor
Wood Construction in Europe
TBA
Speaker info
11:35 - 12:00
Europaea, 1st floor
ESG a strategic choice and a reporting exercise
Terhi Koipijärvi, Senior Advisor, Sustainability & Strategy, Miltton
Speaker info
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Terhi is a forerunner in strategic corporate responsibility, with over 30 years of extensive global experience in expert and leadership positions in the forest sector. She joined Miltton, advisor and consulting company, from Metsähallitus, where she worked as Director of Communications, Strategy & Responsibility. Prior to Metsähallitus, she has held corporate responsibility leadership positions at, for example, Stora Enso and Metsä Group. Terhi is a board member of the listed companies Metso and Ponsse, and East Africa’s largest forest company Green Resources, as well as the chairperson of the FIBS (Finnish Business & Society) board. She has a master’s degree in forestry & forest products marketing (University of Helsinki). Terhi has extensive expertise in developing strategic sustainability and green transition, ample experience in M&As and investments, and implementing sustainability as a part of change management. She is no stranger to demanding stakeholder cooperation in a global operating environment. Terhi’s views can also be found in e.g. the book ”Corporate Responsibility 2.0 – A New Normal of Leadership”, which she wrote together with Sari Kuvaja. |
12:00 - 13:00
restaurant marine 2nd floor
Lunch
13:00 - 13:25
Europaea, 1st floor
Geopolitical outlook
TBA
Speaker info
13:25 - 13:45
Europaea, 1st floor
MENA Market Outlook
Amir Rashad, CEO & Founder, Timber Exchange
Speaker info
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Amir Rashad, a former physical commodity trader and supply chain manager, is at the forefront of driving digitization and enhancing market transparency within global commodity supply chains. As the CEO and Founder of Timber Exchange, Amir has successfully transformed the company into a leading and modern partner for sawmills and traders. Through Timber Exchange, he has streamlined high-volume cargo flows and automated many traditional manual processes, greatly improving efficiency across the industry. Beyond his role at Timber Exchange, Amir serves as the editor of the highly regarded Essential Timber Market News, a weekly newsletter that provides curated insights on key developments affecting the global timber market. He is also the host of the Timber & Technology Podcast, where he regularly interviews market leaders on market trends and technological advancements. To learn more about Timber Exchange and its groundbreaking solutions, visit www.timber.exchange |
13:45 - 14:00
Europaea, 1st floor
China Market Outlook
TBA
Speaker info
14:00 - 14:15
Europaea, 1st floor
North America Market Outlook
Paul F. Jannke, Principal, Lumber, FEA
Speaker info
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Paul Jannke is a founder and Principal of Forest Economic Advisors LLC, with a main area of expertise in North American lumber markets. Having spent 30 years analyzing lumber markets and providing reliable, insightful forecasts, Paul is the industry’s top economic analyst. Beyond North American lumber, Paul has co-authored numerous studies on the international lumber and engineered lumber, timber, bioenergy, and panel industries. Paul holds a master’s degree in economics from Boston University and bachelor’s degrees in economics and German from the University of Connecticut. Prior to starting his career in the forest products industry, Paul was a research economist at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden, specializing in econometric modeling. |
14:15 - 14:45
LOBBY, 1st & 2nd floor
Coffee Break
14:45 - 15:00
Europaea, 1st floor
UK Market Outlook
Stephen Sabine, Senior Consultant, JAM Timber Consulting
Speaker info
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Stephen has 40 years experience in the timber Industry covering managerial, director and ownership roles. Working mainly for Consolidated Timber Holdings and their associated companies, where he joined the board in 2015, completed an MBO with partners in 2017 and resold to Private Equity in 2021. He worked in his native New Zealand for Carter Holt Harvey and also for Finnforest/Metsa for some years. Today Stephen has his own consultancy business, JAM Timber Consulting, advising producers, importers, distributors, merchants, timber frame builders and architects. He is also a partner at Forest Economic Advisors LLC in the US where he writes for their Wood Markets Monthly publication. He currently sits on the National Softwood Division (NSD) committee of Timber Development UK (TDUK) In his spare time he enjoys burning petrol and cold water swimming…….but not together! |
15:00 - 15:15
Europaea, 1st floor
Estonian Market Outlook
Henrik Välja, Managing Director, Estonian Forest and Wood Industries Association
Speaker info
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Henrik has been working as the Managing Director of Estonian Forest and Wood Industries Association (EFWA) since 2016. EFWA represents companies with activities ranging from forest management to mechanical wood processing all through the value chain. Prior to EFWA Henrik has worked with wood house factories and Puuinfo Estonia promoting wood in construction. Henrik has studied wood construction and economics. |
15:15 - 15:30
Europaea, 1st floor
Germany Market Outlook
TBA
Speaker info
15:30 - 16:00
Europaea, 1st floor
Finland Market Outlook and Closing of the Event
Matti Kylävainio, Chairman of the Board, Finnish Sawmills Association
Speaker info
18:00 - 23:30
FEnnia I-II, 2nd floor
Dinner
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